Councils receive four-year funding settlement

A financial settlement has been published revealing councils are set to receive £3.5 billion of extra funding, which will be available for adult social care by 2019/20. 

£1.5 billion has also been earmarked for councils to work with the NHS to ensure care is available for older people following hospital treatment through the Better Care Fund. 

Further more, the New Homes Bonus has also been extended indefinitely through there will be a consultation on government reforms to the policy. 

Greg Clark, Communities Secretary, said: “This protects the resources available to councils over the next four years, puts more money into the agreed priority of caring for elderly people and offers councils the certainty of a four-year budget.

“This settlement has been achieved by listening to local government leaders who have had a good track record of making savings and delivering valued services over the last five years.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) has approved of the move, claiming the settlement offers a ‘new age’ for local councils. 

Gary Porter, Chairman of the LGA, said: “This settlement should mark the beginning of a new age of independence and responsibility for local councils.

“It is an exciting time to be a councillor and this reform gives us all the biggest chance for a generation to serve our residents in a way that we know best.”